Mum To Clegg: "You Think My Job Is Worthless"

An angry stay-at-home mother accused Nick Clegg of thinking she has a worthless job live on LBC 97.3.

Laura from East Dulwich phoned into Call Clegg after the government reduced child benefit and introduced tax credits for childcare.

She told the Deputy Prime Minister: "Iím just wondering why the coalition is discriminating against mothers like me who care for their children at home with the latest announcement.

"You probably think what I do is a worthless job."

Mr Clegg insisted he supported mothers who choose to stay at home, saying: "Like everybody I massively admire your choice and you should be entirely free and proud of the choices you make in your own life to look after your own children in the way that you want.

"I and I hope no politician would ever seek to judge you for that. This is all about what we can do in government to give people the greatest choice that they want and need in their own lives."

Laura was less than happy with the response, saying: "Child benefit was a fair way of recognising everybodyís legitimate choice either to work outside the home or to work inside the home.

"Youíve essentially abolished that for families like me and replaced it in some way with this which applies only to mums who go out to work.

"I have absolutely no problem with mums who want to do that. There are plenty of my neighbours who do that and I support them fully.

"But they also recognise that I do a difficult job at home but by taking away our child benefit and not replacing it with anything, youíre clearly discriminating against us."

Mr Clegg argued that all families receive 15 hours free childcare a week for three and four-year-olds, and from September it will be extended to two-year-olds from poorer backgrounds.